May Day/Beltaine

"From my wings are shaken the dew
That waken the sweet buds everyone,
When rocked to rest on their Mother's breast
As She dances round the sun."

--Percy Bysshe Shelley

May Day: the first of May. Beltaine. A festival to celebrate the fertility of the Earth.

I have a special experience to relate about Beltaine '98: it was my first celebration with other Pagans.

The Pagan community in my small town came together last Beltaine for a memorable day. We started off getting to know each other--most of us had never met face to face before--and had a potluck picnic. Then, we moved on to that most fabled May Day tradition: the Maypole. (A tip for future Maypolers: if there's an uneven number of people, one can hold two of the ribbons.)

The Maypole

The Maypole is a dance to weave ribbons around a pole (phallic symbol). It symbolizes the male aspect of the Divine and is an incredibly fun and bonding activity. Dancers begin by facing a partner while standing in a circle around the Maypole: one facing clockwise, one facing counterclockwise. Then, the partner in each partnership who is facing clockwise steps in towards the Maypole and the partner facing counterclockwise steps outward, away from the Maypole. (Or maybe it's the other way around.) Then, the ones who stepped in step out and the ones who stepped out step in, and then it's back to the beginning again. In, out, in, out, all the while walking around the Maypole. (Caution: make sure small children understand that pattern. We had some weird knots in the finished Maypole.) Eventually, the ribbons are woven around the Maypole in a lovely pattern, and everyone is probably happy and hungry. It's confusing, and for that reason, delightful.

Strawberry Crisp

1 c Uncooked Oatmeal

1 c All purpose Flour

1 c Brown Sugar

1/4 c Chopped Walnuts

1/2 c Butter or margarine

1/2 c Sugar

3 c Sliced fresh or frozen Strawberry

Mix together oatmeal, flour and brown sugar. Add nuts. Cut in butter or margarine until crumbly. In another bowl, mix strawberries and white sugar together. Grease an 8" square pan. Spread half the crumb mixture on bottom. Cover with strawberries. Spread remaining crumb mixture over top. Bake at 350 deg F oven for 45 minutes. Serve warm or cold with whipped cream or topping.

The Bonfire

Another tradition on May Day is to have a bonfire. Warning: if it is a large bonfire, don't park your car too near it, or the paint will shrivel off.

The history of bonfires goes back a long way. Beltane (meaning Bright Fire) or May Day is the first day of summer, and once marked when cattle were taken to pastures to graze after being blessed with protective bonfire smoke. Modern Pagans use the bonfire to affirm connections to the Deities, and at Beltaine '98, I learned that it can be used for another purpose as well. Goals, written on slips of paper, are put into the bonfire; the energy released can act as a catalyst to get you to do those things you've been putting off doing. Not to mention that a leaping bonfire is one heckuva site after dark. I could feel the Goddess dancing in the flames, glorying in the heat.

The sunlight's gold
awakens the Earth and me--
the wind carries laughter
and petals, drifting like snow--
magic, carried on the wind,
whispers in the air
like the rustle of silk--
the Earth awakens.

--Jasper

Dandelion Salad

1 Dishpan full of young dandelion leaves

4 Strips of bacon

1/2 c Sugar

2 T Flour

1 ea Egg beaten

1 t Salt

1/2 c Vinegar

1 1/2 c Water

3 ea Eggs, hard boiled, diced

Wash, drain, and cut up tender dandelion leaves.
Brown bacon; remove drippings and crumble
Combine sugar and flour. Add egg, salt, vinegar, and water and mix until smooth.
Pour into bacon drippings and heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens.
Pour warm dressing over dandelion.
Add crumbled bacon and hard boild eggs. Toss lightly and serve immediatly.

May Day Lore/Traditions

May Day represents fertility and sexuality.

One tradition of May Day is bringing baskets of flowers to those you love.

"The fair maid who at first of May,
Goes to the fields at break of day,
And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree,
Will ever after handsome be."

Elder Flower Fritters (Medieval England)

From Wisteria's Faery Recipes

The French use elder flowers to pack apples. They claim that this enhances the flavor.

1 egg

1 cup self-rising flour

1 teaspoon Rose Water

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup honey

2 cups elder flowers, freshly picked & cleaned

2 tablespoons brandy

Mix the egg, rose water, honey, & brandy in a medium sized bowl. Stir in the flour & cinnamon; the batter should resemble slightly thick pancake batter. If the batter is too thin, add a little more flour; if too thick, add more brandy. Fold in the elder flowers. Fry like pancakes or drop by the teaspoon into a deep-fat-fryer until golden brown. Serve with a sprinkling of orange water & fresh lemon, or dip into fresh sweet cream.

Yield: About 2 dozen

Note: If you are not using self-rising flour, add 1 teaspoon baking powder & 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Variation: If you can't find elder flowers, substitute 1 cup finely diced apples & a hint of fresh mint for similar magical effects.

Magical Attributes: Protection from Faery folk, trust, beauty, energy for attraction, & magical ambience. Can also be eaten on Lammas, St. Valentines Day, or Hallow's Eve.

Have a lovely Beltaine!